Ohio State fan, 12, names cancer ‘Michigan,’ beats it

Ohio State football fans always want to defeat what they call “That school up North.”

So when a 12-year-old Buckeyes fan was diagnosed with cancer 14 months ago, he chose to name his disease Michigan.

He wanted to beat it — and he has.

The young fan, Grant Reed, was released from Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus Friday after receiving a final chemotherapy session.

Grant’s father, Troy Reed, on Tuesday said his son was readmitted to the hospital over the weekend because of a bacterial infection, but he added the boy is doing “very well.”

“Our prognosis is very good,” he said. “It shows that he has indeed beat Michigan.”

In May 2012, Grant underwent a 16 1/2-hour surgery to have a brain tumor removed. Although the surgery was successful, he woke up without being able to move his left side or speak and had a serious vision problem.

He spent nearly 10 weeks at the hospital following the surgery. He then went through occupational and speech therapies and was able to continue to attend school. He will be in seventh grade this fall.

But his road to recovery included several rounds of radiation and chemotherapy treatments.

Grant’s first chemo session, his dad said, was during the Buckeyes’ season-opening game in September.

“We had a mini party and watched the Buckeyes play here at the hospital,” Troy Reed said Tuesday while Grant was back at the hospital. He added that the Reeds continued to watch OSU games at the hospital during the weekends that Grant was admitted to continue his chemotherapy treatment.

Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer visited the boy at the hospital in December. Grant’s father said his son talked to Meyer for about 20 minutes.

“He was thrilled,” the father said.

Grant’s parents met as members of the Ohio State Marching Band and got engaged during a game in 1994. Troy Reed said Grant and his 9-year-old brother Collin have a “true respect for the rivalry that OSU and Michigan share.”

Troy Reed said the family is hoping to attend a game during this year’s season, provided that Grant’s health allows them.

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